Retiring Gilchrist knew time was up

Adelaide: Retiring Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said Sunday he knew his time in international cricket was up, but declined to immediately give reasons for his decision.

Gilchrist called time on his career on Saturday, the day after becoming the record holder for most Test dismissals with 414 and will bow out after next month's triangular series with India and Sri Lanka.

The 36-year-old said he would detail reasons for his decision after the fourth Test against India here was over.

"I feel great, really happy," he told Channel Nine before the start of play on the fourth day here. "A bit confused, it's just been unbelievable.

"I wanted to say to the cricketing public, at the end (of the Test) I can't wait to share it with everyone. I can't wait to talk about it all."

Gilchrist said he had summoned his family to attend the Adelaide Test, but had not canvassed his thoughts on retirement with past players before deciding.

"I thought about discussing it with a lot of people, past players, but I just knew," he said. "I just knew, there was a point in time when I just knew."

Gilchrist, whose wicket-keeping in the ongoing fourth Test against India has been criticised after some notable errors, managed to be a high-class performer with both bat and gloves for most of his 96 Tests.

Gilchrist's father, Stan, said his son had called on Friday night, a day after the wicketkeeper had grassed a simple catch off V.V.S. Laxman.

"It wasn't really a surprise ... it's been a while coming," Stan said.

"Ian Chappell always said you know when the time is right - and that moment had come to Adam," he told Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"People have been trying to ask me all day whether there was another motive, but there wasn't. He just knew it was time.

"We feel very proud and humble about the opportunities that cricket has given him and our family."

The Western Australia gloveman revolutionised the role at Test level of wicketkeeper/batsman with a series of blistering innings while at the same time maintaining a generally high standard behind the stumps.

He was also a dynamic one-day batsman, appearing in three straight World Cup triumphs, including last year's final where he scored a whirlwind 149 from a mere 104 balls.